Putnam County's Mann Family Wins Young Farmers Achievement Award

Staff Report

Joe and Angela Mann of Putnam County were recently selected by Indiana Farm Bureau as the organization's Young Farmer Achievement Award winners. The announcement came November 21 during the IFB's state convention in Fort Wayne.

The Young Farmer Achievement Award recognizes young farmers whose farm management techniques and commitment to their communities set a positive example for those involved in production agriculture.

The Manns will represent Indiana in January at the young farmer and rancher contests at the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention in Seattle.

Joe and Angela are partners in White Oaks Farms with Joe's father and two brothers. More than 7,500 crop acres are under production, producing corn, soybeans and wheat. White Oaks Farms also includes a wean-to-finish swine operation marketing 20,000 hogs per year. The couple also owns Rolling Meadows Plant Farm, a retail greenhouse business.

The Manns make their home near Cloverdale with their three children, six-year-old Brady, threeyear old Emily, and two-year-old Nathan.

As winners of the Young Farmer Achievement Award, the Manns win a $6,000 cash prize from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, $500 from Dodge, one year's (or 350 hours') use of a Kubota tractor, and the David Leising Award, which includes a $200 savings bond, as well as the trip to the national convention.